Palestinian civil defense workers carry away the remains of an Israeli missile after an air strike in Gaza, December 17, 2004. An Israeli missile strike destroyed two buildings in Gaza on Friday that the army said had been used by militants to manufacture munitions, just hours after troops killed eight Palestinians in a southern Gaza raid. (Photo: Xinhua/Reuters)

(Photo: Xinhua/AFP)

(Photo: Xinhua/AFP)

Palestinian homeless sleep inside a United Nation school after their houses were demolished by Israeli army during an operation at the Khan Younis refugee camp in southern Gaza Strip December 17, 2004.  (Photo: Xinhua/Reuters)

Israeli Apache helicopters fired several missiles at central Gaza Strip on Friday night, targeting several places, witnesses said. (Photo: Xinhua/Reuters)

    GAZA, Dec. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli Apache helicopters fired several missiles at central Gaza Strip on Friday night, targeting several places, witnesses said.

    The helicopters hovered on northern Gaza Strip and fired atleast six missiles, said the witnesses, adding that two explosions were heard. Fire fighters and ambulances rushed to the targetedplace.

    Three places were hit by the six missiles, the witnesses said,adding that one is an empty store and the other is a metal workshop, no injuries were reported.

    A goldsmith was also hit by the missiles, causing severe damage,but no casualties were reported.

    Eye witnesses said that dozens of men, women and children wereseen in the streets in a shock and panic following the airstrikes.Israel claims that the metal workshops and gold smiths are manufacturing homemade rockets and mortar shells that Palestinian militants use against Jewish settlements. Enditem